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Monday, July 31, 2006, Morning
K.C. Chiefs Training Camp Daily Updates

Although today was not as humid, it was still hot. The weather today was partly sunny with a nice breeze. At 8:45 a.m. it was 83 degrees with 58 percent humidity, with winds coming from the south at 4 mph. By the time practice was done, around 10:45 a.m., it was a scorching 95 degrees with 41 percent humidity, and the winds picked up to 16 mph. It should make for a blistering afternoon practice.

Defense

Another abnormally hot morning in River Falls did not slow up the Chiefs. After intense stretching and conditioning, players broke up into their usual specialty drills.  

Defensive linemen were worked extra hard today by defensive line coach Tim Krumrie.  

"Probably the hardest part of practice for our defense is getting through individuals," said Head Coach Herm Edwards. "If you just take a look at the individual period, it's 20 minutes, if they can make it through that they can make it through practice."

Absent from practice today was rookie defensive end Tamba Hali. Hali was excused to fly back to the East Coast to sign papers to become a United States citizen. "He (Hali) had to go to New Jersey, he's going to be a citizen. He was excited about that," said Coach Herm Edwards with a smile. "I just told him congratulations, enjoy it."

Cornerback Lenny Walls was also still sitting out practice with a hamstring injury. Coach Herm Edwards guessed that Walls would be back sometime next week. With Walls' injury, corner Benny Sapp has been getting large amounts of playing time and is not wasting anytime impressing the coaching staff.  

The team moved onto running drills where linemen were instructed to break through the offensive line to hit the ball carrier. Tackle James Reed showed his motor by breaking through the line with ease on multiple occasions, gaining compliments from Coach Tim Krumrie the whole way.  

Intensity was mounting as players began getting in each other's faces and showing emotion aside from their normal grunts. Defensive end Zach Ville jawed and shoved rookie guard Tre Stallings who immediately pushed back. The confrontation was quickly stopped.  

Linebacker Derrick Johnson intercepted a tipped ball thrown by quarterback Damon Huard. Johnson took the offering back to the house.

Towards the end of practice, safety Scott Connot made a diving one-handed interception in the end zone on a over thrown Brodie Croyle toss.

Defensive tackle Lional Dalton said that his conditioning is getting better. Hopefully it will be good enough so he can be a "true animal." To Dalton, a "true animal" entails being in top physical shape, so he can concentrate on making a play instead of "breathing." On defensive line coach Tim Krumrie , Dalton says, "He played 12 years in the league, so what else is there to say. He's a great coach, and he's intense. There is no slacking with him. He is going to be in your face and he's a great motivator too."

Coach Herm Edwards said of practice, "I thought it was a good practice. I thought we would get a little bit of a lull because this is the fourth day consecutively that we have actually gone out in pads. I thought maybe they were going to feel a little sorry for themselves but they didn't do that. That tells me that the veterans are controlling the locker room and the mindset of this football team."

Offense

Tight end Tony Gonzalez did not practice this morning, but he was out on the field cheering on his teammates. Guard Will Shields did not practice this morning; instead he rode the exercise bike.

The first offensive team drill concentrated on the running game. Quarterback Trent Green took the first several snaps. On the first play running back Larry Johnson cut to the outside, avoiding all defenders. His speed and lateral movements received a loud applause from the crowd. Johnson also led a running attack up the middle two more times in the series. Running back McKenzi Smith ran pass routes three times, while running back Quentin Griffin and running back Derrick Ross each ran pass routes twice. Running back Dee Brown did not participate in the drill.

In 7-on-7's quarterback Damon Huard completed 5-5 pass attempts to running back Larry Johnson, wide receiver Sammie Parker, tight end Kris Wilson and two to wide receiver Eddie Kennison. Quarterback Brodie Croyle was 2-5, completing passes to tight end Jason Dunn and wide receiver Dante Hall. One of Croyle's attempts was almost intercepted, while another intended for wide receiver Jeris McIntyre was too deep. Quarterback Casey Printers took six snaps, completing 2-3 passes to running back Quentin Griffin and running back Derrick Ross.

In 11-on-11's quarterback Damon Huard completed 8-9 passes. Wide receiver Dante Hall, wide receiver Jeris McIntyre, running back Dee Brown, tight ends Kris Wilson, and Jason Dunn and running back Larry Johnson all caught passes. On one play Dunn tipped the ball in the air and jumped to recover it. Huard threw one interception that slipped through running back McKenzi Smith's hands. Linebacker Derrick Johnson made the interception.

Rookie quarterback Brodie Croyle was intercepted by safety Scott Connot on a long bomb to the end zone. Croyle was 4-6 connecting with running back Derrick Ross, wide receiver Sammie Parker, wide receiver Jeris McIntyre and running back Larry Johnson. Croyle threw an incomplete pass to intended wide receiver Darrell Hill. Quarterback Casey Printers was 2-3 in this drill, completing a pass to tight end Robert Docherty and a touchdown to tight end Adam Johnson. One pass, intended for tight end Kris Wilson, went soaring out of bounds. Running backs Quentin Griffin and McKenzi Smith ran the ball.

Fans

Ralph Deroy, of River Falls, loves having his grandson Connor, a camp volunteer, stay with him for a week during the Chiefs Summer Training Camp. Deroy likes coming to practices because he meets a lot of nice people. Last year, he and his wife met someone who had the inside scoop on where some of the players dine at night. They followed the word to the Copper Kettle, where they saw five or six Chiefs sitting on the patio. The Deroys were seated right next to their table, and even got to help sing Happy Birthday to one of the players.

Corey Smith is a producer/photographer for Metro Sports out of Kansas City. Originally from Pittsburg, Pen., Smith has always wanted a job in sports. Since he knew he wasn’t going to be a player, he though it would be perfect to report what’s going on from the sidelines. Being a Chiefs fan, Smith couldn’t be happier: “I love being on the road and working. I can concentrate on what I do, and I get to watch football.” He enjoys seeing players in their own element, and when they’re just hanging out, instead of working.

Ben and Becky Vonbargen and two children have traveled to River Falls from Kansas City for their second visit to camp ever. Their relatives have a cabin in Amery, Wis., where they will be staying for a few days. Ashlie, 6, and Dylon, 4, who were decked out in Chiefs gear, love the camp experience. When asked about tackle Willie Roaf’s retirement, Ben said, “He’s not done. He’s just skipping out. He’s smart.” He thinks Roaf will be back on the team by the start of the season.

Eric Soley has been coming to training camp since he became a student a UW-River Falls, three years ago. An Adams, Wis. native, Soley thinks cornerback Ty Law is a good edition to the camp. He’s happy to see him here. Soley said there are so many things he likes about camp: “I like to see the behind the scenes look of an NFL team.” He finds it a little crazy that Coach Herm Edwards can wear a sweatshirt when it’s almost 100 degrees outside.

Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance and former Camp Coordinator
Mary Halada was present at practice this morning, along with Wisconsin State
Senator Sheila Harsdorf, and her son Ryan Bailey. Harsdorf, who is the Chair on the Committee on Higher Education and Tourism, was the guest of Chancellor Don Betz
and Public Affairs Director Mark Kinders. After practice concluded, Harsdorf, Bailey
and Betz then met and had their photograph taken with Head Coach Herm Edwards. Edwards then autographed Bailey’s football before returning to Hunt Arena.

Emily Halada, daughter of former Camp Coordinator Mary Halada, was at the morning
practice today. Emily, who attends UW-Stout, is a volunteer/Guest Services Coordinator for the training camp. She has been to all 16 training camps, and has been a volunteer for two. Emily likes meeting new people throughout camp, and getting involved with the kids who do other volunteer work. Emily mentioned that this year has been especially exciting because she met quarterback Trent Green, and has met the new staff of Head Coach Herm Edwards.

Brilla and Larrie Scott from Lawrence, Kan., brought grandson Colter, 15, and granddaughters Brogan, 10, and Calinan, 12, to practice today. Brilla and
Larrie are big Chiefs fans, and decided to make a stop in River Falls on their
way back home from a family vacation. This is the first time the Scotts have been
to training camp. Colter, a football player himself, mentioned that he has no real favorite
Chiefs players, but really likes new Head Coach Herm Edwards.

Sarah and Colin Waters from Waukon, Iowa, are in River Falls for the summer training camp. Colin, 6, who has a very impressive football card collection, has had a wonderful time watching the team train and practice. His favorite player is quarterback Trent Green, and he is excited for Kids’ Day during tomorrow’s morning practice.

Brad Schroeder and Penny Morgan arrived in River Falls today from Springfield, Ill., to begin their five day vacation at the Chiefs Summer Training Camp. Scroeder has been a DJ for 21 years, and recently entertained at a party put on for linebacker Boomer Grigsby in the player’s hometown of Canton, Ill. Schroeder has done parties for high ranking officials like governors and police chiefs, but said the party for Grigsby was one of the best he’s been able to be a part of. Morgan and Schroeder think Grigsby is quite the comedian, and they say he is a huge fan of 80’s music.

Even with the absence of his two favorite players, offensive tackle Willie Roaf and fullback Tony Richardson, Frank Sheble made his annual trip up north from Kansas City with his grandchildren to watch his beloved Chiefs practice. Sheble felt that Richardson and Roaf played a vital role in protecting quarterback Trent Green, and fears that without them Green will be much more susceptible to taking blows from outside pass rushers. “The team must stay healthy to make it to the playoffs. They are not very deep beyond their starters,” said Sheble. Sheble was also very impressed with how Head Coach Herm Edwards keeps his players busy doing different drills. He remembers a lot of players standing around and doing nothing in previous years. “He’s even got punters and kickers practicing tackles,” Sheble added.

Draped up in yellow and red adidas and a Derrick Johnson jersey, Harry Calandros was watching morning practice very attentively. Calandros made the trip to River Falls from Massillon, Oh., with his family to watch the team that he has been an avid fan of since the days of the great Chiefs’ quarterback Lenny Dawson. He has been coming to River Falls since 2003, and has been attending Chiefs games at Arrowhead Stadium at least once a year since 1981. What Calandros would love to see this year, is Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt lift the trophy that was named after him, and win the AFC Championship.

Calandros loves coach Herm Edwards’ coaching style and calls him a mix of former Chiefs coaches Hank Stram and Dick Vermiel. Calandros has two daughters, Katrina and Kayleigh, whose initials are both K.C., very fitting since the girls love the K.C. Chiefs. Their favorite player is kick returner Dante Hall, who in 2003 gave Katrina and Kayleigh a pair of signed gloves and a football that he had used during practice that day. Ever since, the family has made it a ritual to come to training camp every year to cheer on Hall and the rest of the Chiefs.

They were hoping to get more memorabilia signed by Hall today, as wide receivers were signing autographs after this morning’s practice.

Extra...Extra

Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star, and a recent guest host on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, was at this morning’s practice interviewing players.

Students and staff covering the Chiefs this year include in front row, left to right: Sara Dehn (Senior Day), Amie Eller (Kids' Days), John Hepokoski (sidelines), Holly Sigler (photographs), Jude Harder (fans, Punt, Pass & Kick). Back, left to right: Mark Kinders (Public Affairs Director), Kat Krtnick (sidelines), Deb Toftness (Office Manager), Brenda Bredahl (Public Affairs Editor), Jim Thies (Sports Information Director), Jens Gunelson (University Photographer).

Chiefs fans! Make sure you tune in to the 2006 Daily Updates page on a regular basis. We will be posting sidelines and fans information after each practice while the Chiefs are in camp.